Reduced residue hard surface cleaner

Abstract

The invention provides an aqueous, hard surface cleaner with significantly improved residue removal and substantially reduced filming/streaking, said cleaner comprising: (a) an effective amount of a solvent selected from C 1-6 alkanol, C 3-24 alkylene glycol ether, and mixtures thereof; (b) an effective amount of a surfactant selected from amphoteric, nonionic and anionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof; (c) an effective amount of a buffering system which comprises a nitrogenous buffer selected from the group consisting of: ammonium or alkaline earth carbamates, guanidine derivatives, alkoxylalkylamines and alkyleneamines; and (d) the remainder as substantially all water.

We claim: 
     
       1. An aqueous, hard surface cleaner with significantly improved residue removal and substantially reduced filming/streaking, said cleaner consisting essentially of: (a) an effective amount of a solvent selected from C 1-6  alkanol, C 3-24  alkylene glycol ether, and mixtures thereof;   (b) an effective amount of a surfactant selected from amphoteric and anionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof, wherein the effective amount for the amphoteric surfactant is about 0.005-2% and for the anionic surfactant is about 0.001-1%, and, optionally, a further nonionic surfactant in an effective amount of about 0.75%;   (c) about 0.01-2% of a buffering system which comprises a nitrogenous buffer which is either ammonium or alkaline earth carbamate; and   (d) the remainder as substantially all water.   
     
     
       2. The hard surface cleaner of claim 1 wherein said solvent is an alkanol which is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, butanol, pentanol, hexanol, their various positional isomers, and mixtures of the foregoing. 
     
     
       3. The hard surface cleaner of claim 1 wherein said solvent is an alkylene glycol ether which is selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylene glycol monopropyl ether, propylene glycol monopropyl ether, propylene glycol monobutyl ether, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       4. The hard surface cleaner of claim 3 wherein said solvent is propylene glycol t-butyl ether. 
     
     
       5. The hard surface cleaner of claim 1 wherein said surfactant further comprises a mixture of anionic and amphoteric surfactants. 
     
     
       6. The hard surface cleaner of claim 1 wherein said surfactant further comprises a mixture of anionic, nonionic and amphoteric surfactants. 
     
     
       7. The hard surface cleaner of claims 5 or 6 further comprising a soluble alkaline earth metal salt. 
     
     
       8. The hard surface cleaner of claim 7 wherein said alkaline earth metal salt is either CaCl 2  or MgCl 2 . 
     
     
       9. The hard surface cleaner of claims 5 or 6, wherein said anionic surfactant is a C 6-20  alkyl sulfate and said amphoteric surfactant is an alkylbetaine. 
     
     
       10. The hard surface cleaner of claim 6 wherein said nonionic surfactant is a trialkyl amine oxide. 
     
     
       11. The hard surface cleaner of claim 1 wherein said buffer further includes an ammonium hydroxide. 
     
     
       12. A method for removing soil, without substantial residue remaining, from a hard surface comprising applying the cleaner of claim 1 to said soil and removing said soil and said cleaner.